GCHQ Puzzle Books help to raise £500,000 for mental health initiative

We have raised £500,000 for mental health initiative Heads Together thanks to the sales of our popular puzzle books.

After going on sale in 2016, the first GCHQ Puzzle Book has sold more than 350,000 copies while GCHQ Puzzle Book II, released in 2019 to mark our centenary year, has already sold around 90,000 copies.

Proceeds from the book sales, combined with our other fundraising efforts, have helped to raise £500,000 for Heads Together, a mental health initiative spearheaded by the Royal Foundation of The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, which seeks to tackle stigma and change the conversation on mental health.

To mark the fundraising milestone and Mental Health Awareness Week, we have today published one of our tricky brainteasers on Twitter, asking puzzlers to share a selfie of them tackling it on their social media channels with the hashtag #PuzzlePose.

A GCHQ spokesperson said:

“At GCHQ we know even great minds need support. Testing yourself on one of the tricky brainteasers in the GCHQ puzzle books is not only a great way of keeping mentally fit, it also raises money for a great cause.

“To mark Mental Health Awareness Week, we’re encouraging people to try daily brainteasers to keep their minds active and maintain their mental resilience – particularly during this difficult time.”

During our centenary year in 2019, staff took part in a range of fundraising events, from a 100-mile charity bike ride to bake sales. Activities have contributed to the £500,000 raised.